Franklin School District will be closed today as students and faculty attend the funeral of a woman many will remember as always smiling and laughing.

Marie S. Long, 72, of Franklin died Saturday at Passavant Area Hospital, leaving the school community saddened by the loss of their cheery cook.

A Franklin graduate, Long worked in the district for the past seven years, developing friendships with the students and faculty.

Kim Allen, the district’s bookkeeper, has worked with Long since 2011, when Long started with the district as a cook.

“She was like a mother to everyone in the community, whether they be students or faculty or staff,” Allen said. “She was always there to give you a hug, with a smile on her face.”

The district decided it was best to cancel classes for the day to give students the opportunity to attend the services, Interim Superintendent Curt Simonson said.

“She was extremely well loved,” Simonson said. “We have large amounts of staff and students who wanted to attend, so we are not going to be in session out of respect for her.”

Allen said Long was always there for people, giving many people nicknames and always offering up an act of kindness or joy.

“She was a jokester, very funny,” Allen said. “She could be a little devious. She was one of those people that could make a bad work day better.”

While working as a cook for the district, Long also worked other jobs and still made time to help others in need, Allen said.

“She worked constantly,” Allen said. “People who were in the hospital, she’d take in their pets. She was just such a great gal. There’s really no better way to describe her. She was just a great gal. Her warmness and personality will be missed.”

Simonson has only known Long since he joined the district in August, but he enjoyed interacting with her, he said.

“She’s a remarkable lady, always smiling or laughing,” Simonson said. “I’ve been around public education for a long time and she is the type of person that will always live forever because she’ll live forever in the hearts of everyone she’s touched.”